Conservation

Envoy:Cull — documentary film on Australia and 83 years of shark killing

** Interview Episode 118 **

For over 80 years the Australian Government has supported the killing of sharks along popular Queensland and New South Wales beaches through nets and baited hooks under the guise of public safety. Today we hear the truth behind this senseless ‘culling’ of sharks that not only kills other animals, such as whales, dolphins, and rays, but also has zero proof of positive impact on human safety in the water. Today Andre Borrell, director and producer, with Madison Stewart, shark conservationist and co-star, take us through the history and horrors of the Australian shark culling program and how they have came together with many others to create this amazing movie, Envoy:Cull, that has the sole purpose of ending this 83-year government program. In this we have epic stories of bravery and passion for the ocean, with tales of following an undeniable calling in life that some, like Andre and Madi, are fortunate to realize.

Remember the old saying, ‘If you’re not mad, you’re not paying attention’? Well sometimes there is so little information available on a tragic activity, like shark culling, that there’s almost nothing to pay attention to. That’s exactly why Envoy, is so important — the film is bringing awareness to all of us around the world about shark culling in Australia and is exactly that ‘thing’ that we can pay attention to. So now that we know, how about we do something? Dive deeper at www.envoyfilm.com.au and share the Envoy trailer on Facebook. Also go to https://www.envoyfilm.com.au/ and see how you can get involved. With more people paying attention, more people will be mad, and more people will be willing to do something to make change happen to save sharks. Let’s all be part of that togethe

Francesca Trotman has dedicated her life to preserving the marine life of Mozambique. As a British scholar and marine biologist, Francesca formed a deep connection to the ocean animals in this part of Africa during her university field work and has since planted roots in the country, working with local governments and communities on a number of fronts to help preserve their ocean waters. From setting up marine protected areas to engaging on numerous scientific studies, educating local school children and more, Francesca’s non-profit foundation, Love The Oceans, is her legacy for protecting the ocean in that area of the African continent. Today, we hear her story, filled with inspiration, compassion, and dedication to doing something great for the ocean and another culture outside of her own.

What I love so much about Francesca’a story today is her dedication to helping an emerging country, Mozambique, figure out how to best preserve and protect their wonderfual ocean waters and the animals that live in them. While these waters may be thousands of miles away from most of us, the whales, sharks, mantas, and dolphins know no boundaries and need all the support and protection that we can give them.

Imagine donating a mere $10 to Love The Oceans today and feeling good about helping to protect these species we’re hearing about in Mozambique, giving them a better chance to thrive in the waters around a developing continent and greatly increasing the chance that our own grandchildren will be able to swim with them in the future. Visit LoveTheOceans.org and see the various ways you can contribute. With Earth Day 2020 happening this week, it makes good sense to to get involved… And check out Francesca’s photography available for purchase on her website https://francescatrotman.co.uk/

Chris Fuentes knows first hand about the growing spread of insect-born diseases associated with global warming. After battling with his own case of Lyme Disease, Chris has seen friends and family deal with the spread of ticks in the Northeastern US and associated Lyme Disease they carry. His passion for helping others while bringing a great product to market has led him on his path to develop the next generation of insect repellants, Ranger Ready, that is 100% effective while being 100% safe for people and the environment. The key ingredient, Picaridin, is a proven alternative to DEET, the not-so-good-for-you-or-the-environment ingredient in the big green bottle repellants that most of us are used to. Whether battling no-see-ums on the sand or mosquitos along the coast, Picaridin is the right choice for us to defend aginst insect born diseases in this warming world. After meeting Chris at Surf Expo I had the opportunity to spend time talking with him where we started with his own experience Lyme Disease.

Whether on a tropical surf trip or paddling the backwaters of temperate climates we are constantly exposed to biting insects that can pose a threat to our health. With the proven and healthy ingredient of Picaridin, Ranger Ready products are awesome non-toxic alternatives to the big green can repellants we are used to. With or without scent, Ranger Ready comes in a variety of applications to best protect us, from pump spray to lotion. Check them out at RangerReady.com and enter the coupon code Ocean10 (capital ‘O’) to get 10% off of your order. Now, let’s get on back to Chris.

Guy Harvey -- blending art and science of the ocean, spokesman of marine life

** Interview episode 109 **

Raised in the waters of Jamaica, educated in England, from his earliest days Guy Harvey has had a strong connection to the ocean that has manifested into a lifelong career of art, science, and business. With a doctorate in marine biology and incredible natural gift for drawing and painting, Guy has pursued his passion for the ocean and the pelagic fish and sharks that make it home to build one of the first apparel brands focused on the ocean. Decades later, Guy has grown his brand into a thriving, sustainable company that funds ocean research projects that deliver new insights into highly migratory animals and raises awareness of their strong value to ecotourism. Stories, perspectives, inspiration — we hear it all today with Guy Harvey. Enjoy.

Listening to a podcast like this with stories from the ocean can help keep us energized and inspired to do great things in the ocean. So can wearing some good looking gear with your favorite underwater scenes and animals from the ocean — especially when it’s sustainably made and directly benefits research and protection. Guy Harvey’s brand is just that — it looks great and does good for the ocean. So check out his art and apparel at guyharvey.comwhere you can also learn more about his ocean foundation and all of the science we’re getting into today.

Nik Strong-Cvetich -- Save The Waves Coalition, protecting surf ecosystems around the world

Nik Strong-Cevitch has travelled around the world setting up conservation and ecostourism projects in coastal communities. As a lifelong surfer NIk has been able to blend his love of surf with his professional abilities and now leads the Save The Waves Coalition to protect sensitive surf breaks the world over. With the audacious goal of protecting 1,000 waves, Nik is supported by a strong cast of characters around the world who contribute to the development of ‘world surf reserves’, help raise funds, and make sure Nik gets a wave or two at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch. On top of all of this, Nik is a humble father, husband, and member of the Santa Cruz ocean community ready to spread good vibes to those around him.

I highly encourage everyone listening to this who did, does, or will ride a wave at some point to check out SaveTheWaves.org and find ways that you can help Nik and team combat everything from water pollution to sea level rise and coastal development. When you think about how so much of our ocean culture revolves around waves, it starts to feel pretty important to be sure we preserve them for future generations. Thanks for doing that. thanks for listening, and thanks for sharing in ocean life of Nik Strong Cevitch.

Scott Kennedy -- jack of many trades in the ocean

** Episode 102 ** Every now and then you meet someone who blows you away with their strength across multiple disciplines in the water. Scott Kennedy is one of those people. As a fisherman, surfer, diver, spear fisherman, boater, and more Scott takes us through his life growing up in Southern California, migrating to Northern California, learning his skills in the ocean the hard way – on his own, and finding great adventure and memories throughout. From hand-shaping surfboards to a love of body surfing, working in aquaculture and sustainable seafood consulting, Scott gives us a unique and humble perspective on the ocean we all love.

If you like what you hear today, take 5 minutes and visit FishWise.org or SeafoodWatch.org and read a few things about your favorite, tasty fish and educate on best purchasing practices for you and your family. Let’s use our wallets to let seafood companies know how important sustainable fish populations are to us all. Thanks for caring about the ocean and thanks for being here today sharing in the ocean life of Scott Kennedy.

Hayley-Jo Carr -- scuba diving, coral restoration, Bahamas

In episode 96 I spend time with Hayley-Jo Carr, a woman dedicated to marine conservation in the Bahamas. Hayley-Jo takes us through her youth on the coast of England to finding her passion for scuba diving and undersea life on vacation in the Whitsunday Islands of Australia.

We hear of Hayley-Jo’s pursuit of her passion for diving and marine conservation over the years leading to the Bahamas where today she focuses on coral restoration. Hayley-Jo talks about her role as PADI Course Director, training the local dive shops to teach their scuba students how to contribute to coral restoration, and her role as coordinator of the Reef Rescue Network, working with NGOs and planning dive operations to expand the network of coral reef nurseries.

Hayley-Jo provides great perspective on these coral nurseries, the importance of volunteer science and restoration efforts to support them, the health of the Bahamas shark populations, her love of underwater fashion modeling, impacts of the recent Hurricane Dorian, and more.

Kevin Dunn — sunscreen pioneer, surfer, environmentalist

In episode 95 I speak with Kevin Dunn, founder and operator of BurnOut Suncare, one of the first environmentally-friendly and health conscious sunscreens to hit the market almost 20 years ago. Kevin takes us through his days of living and surfing on Maui, traveling and surfing Indonesia, to his kitchen where he made his first batch of sunscreen. We hear of Kevin’s focus to make a sunscreen that lasted in the water while being healthy for both people and the planet, the challenges he faced early on with bringing this, then niche, product to market, and the amazing reaction to his sunscreen that the market has had since. Kevin shares his knowledge of the chemicals and ingredients used in sunscreens, their effects on people and corals, and gives us a great overview of what ‘reef safe’ really means. We talk global warming, ocean acidification, and the effects that sunscreen chemicals have on corals with mention of some of the responses that places like Palau and Hawaii have taken to help protect their coral reefs from these chemicals. Kevin also shares his philosophy of Burnout Suncare and his drive to minimize every aspect of their environmental impact.

To get 50% off your order of Burnout Suncare products, go to their website at www.burnoutsun.com and enter the code ‘ThisOceanLife50’. My family and I use Burnout exclusively and absolutely love it — check it out!

In episode 81 we speak with Patrick Webster, an incredible underwater photographer with an artistic flair for capturing ocean scenes within the Monterey Bay and beyond. Patrick takes us through his transition from underwater video to photography and the community of local photographers he has around him in the Monterey area. We hear how Patrick’s background with the UC Santa Cruz Marine Science program has influenced his photography and his focus on telling stories of the scenes and animals he photographs to inspire others. Patrick shares his perspective on developing social media content for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a world leader in ocean education and conservation, and the importance of relating the ocean world to the everyday lives of people to help them understand and connect. We also hear about the amazing success story of Cabo Pulmo, a marine protected area near Cabo San Lucas, where Patrick has spent time photographing the amazing ocean life there.

Thanks for sharing Patrick’s ocean life with us. Be sure to check out photos and videos of Patrick on Instagram.

In episode 77 we hear stories from Mellisa Altenburger, a woman of the water who has spent the last 6 years in the Bahamas. Mel takes us through her journey from South Africa to the Bahamas where she crews on a 100-ft cruising yacht and found her passion for being underwater. We hear of Mel’s evolution with scuba and free diving, the wealth of wrecks and animals she regularly experiences in the Bahamas, and her amazing (and heart wrenching) story of working to save a green turtle who swallowed a fishing hook. Mel takes us through her strong passion for ocean conservation with trash cleanups, her work to capture the beauty of the Bahamian waters through underwater photography, and gives a great perspective on her love for the ocean — something we can all identify with.

Thanks for sharing Mel’s ocean life with us. Be sure to check out her amazing photos and videos on Instagram. Photo credit: Pia Oyarzun.

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Fishing, diving, surfing, paddling, spearfishing, sailing, anything in the ocean. This Ocean Life is a weekly podcast series capturing the stories and life times of people around the world who have based their lives on the ocean. Hosted by Josh Pederson / @surfpaddletailgate.